Windshield washer machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a self-contained washing machine to clean a vehicle window such as a vehicle&#39;s windscreen. The washing machine is principally a windscreen washing machine. The washing machine includes a cleaning liquid reservoir unit having a pump and a battery and support. Upon insertion of the battery and support into a housing and handle, electrical connection is made to drive a trigger operated reciprocating squeegee tool. The reciprocating squeegee tool includes a mechanical reciprocator, a squeegee head, and a spraying head, the mechanical reciprocator inducing reciprocating action to a connected squeegee head. The spraying head is connected to the cleaning fluid through tubing and is located proximate the squeegee head. An extender unit fits between the cleaning liquid reservoir unit and the housing and handle of the squeegee tool.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of pending Ser. No. 10/615,024, filed Jul. 9, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to window washers. More specifically, the invention is a windshield washer incorporating a reciprocating squeegee head for cleaning a vehicle's windshield.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicles are used, for example, as a personal form of transportation and to haul goods. Vehicles are exposed to various driving conditions and often get dirty. Windshields are particularly susceptible to getting dirty and thence detrimentally impact on driver visibility. It is important to maintain good visibility through a vehicle's windshield to avoid unnecessary risk to the driver, his passengers and other road users.

Cleaning a vehicle's windshield can present challenges. For example, a windshield covered with insect remains presents a challenge. In addition, some vehicle operators experience difficultly performing physical tasks such as cleaning a windshield. For example, people with troublesome arthritis may find it particularly hard to clean a dirty windshield. A healthy driver can also face difficulties when cleaning a windshield spattered with hardened and dried out insect remains. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus adapted to assist a vehicle operator in the task of cleaning a vehicle's windshield.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,491, issued May 16, 2000 to Hahn et al, describes a cleaning device for a window and headlamp cover of a motor vehicle. The '491 device has two washer nozzles that produce strip-shaped spraying regions on the window or headlamp cover. The '491 spraying regions are arranged one above the other to cover a large region of the window or headlamp cover. The '491 device does not provide a reciprocating cleaning action to boost the removal of insect remains from a windshield.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,528, issued Nov. 15, 1994 to R. D. Brock, describes a window washing tool that comprises a squeegee head having a body, an elongated handle attached to the squeegee body, a pair of opposed wiping bars, and a means to move the wiping bars between a retracted position and a forward extended position. The '528 device does not teach or suggest a rigorous reciprocating action to remove hardened insect remains from a vehicle's windshield.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,592, issued Jan. 4, 2000 to E. Habba, describes a linearly reciprocating wiper apparatus for wiping a non-planar window. The '592 apparatus comprises a first and second track members and a drive wheel assembly that includes at least one motorized drive wheel which engages the tracks. In view of the requirement for tracks and a motorized drive wheel system the '592 device is dedicated to cleaning a window in close proximity to the tracks. Thus, the '592 apparatus cannot be used, for example, to clean a line of cars with dirty windshields. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that can clean windows, such as windshields or rear windows, on different cars.

European patent application number EPO0074600, published Mar. 23, 1983 to B. Herbert, describes a flatbed-printing machine comprising a reciprocating doctor blade arrangement. While the Herbert patent describes a reciprocating doctor blade there is no teaching or suggestion of combining the reciprocating doctor blade with a cleaning fluid suitable for cleaning a windshield. Instead, the Herbert patent teaches away from the present invention by exploiting the reciprocating doctor blade for making it possible for a sheet to be printed on virtually up to the edge of the sheet and for excellent register to be guaranteed even for larger printing formats.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a windshield washer machine solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a washing machine especially adapted to substantially clean a vehicle window such as a vehicle's windscreen. In a preferred embodiment the washing machine is a windscreen washing machine. The washing machine comprises a self-contained power supply, such as a battery, a cleaning fluid supply such as a reservoir and pump, and a reciprocating squeegee tool. The reciprocating squeegee tool includes a motor driving a mechanical reciprocator, a squeegee head, and a spraying head. The squeegee head is connected to the reciprocator that induces a reciprocating action in the squeegee head wherein the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between a first position and a second position. The spraying head is connected to the cleaning fluid reservoir and located proximate to the squeegee head thereby allowing the spraying means to spray cleaning fluid in an area proximate to the squeegee head. An extension unit is provided for connection between the liquid reservoir and the reciprocating squeegee.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a windshield washer machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a reciprocating squeegee tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the reciprocating squeegee tool of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a money-operated cleaning station.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a control system used to operate the money-operated cleaning station of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a self-contained reciprocating squeegee tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded and cut away side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially cut away side elevation view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 5 having an extension tube.

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded and cut away side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an electrical diagram representing the electrical circuitry of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to window washers. More specifically, the invention is a windshield washer incorporating a reciprocating squeegee head for cleaning a vehicle's windshield.

FIG. 1 shows an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of a windshield washer machine 100 according to the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the windshield washer machine 100 comprises a reciprocating squeegee tool 120, a power supply line 140, such as a re-coiling power line, to supply power to the reciprocating squeegee tool 120, cleaning fluid delivery tubing 160, and a money operated cleaning station 180 in operable communication with the reciprocating squeegee tool 120. The cleaning station 180 comprises at least one housing 183 and a money-receiving member 188. It should be understood that the cleaning station 180 may comprise of a single housing or a housing subdivided into sections such as the at least one housing 183 and an additional housing 186.

As used herein, it will be understood that the money-receiving member 188 is preferably adapted to receive coins. Alternatively, the money-receiving member 188 is adapted to handle paper currency such as American dollar bills and European paper money. The money-receiving member 188 can also be adapted to handle, for example, credit cards, debit cards, and tokens. Money-receiving members in the form of paper currency and coin receiving mechanisms that can calculate and dispense change are well known; vendors of money receiving members are found, for example, in trade journals, in yellow pages, and on the world wide web, e.g., at URL: http://www.refurbishedvending.com/bill_validators.html.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle operator 200 is shown using the reciprocating squeegee tool 120 to clean a vehicle 205 and more particularly the vehicle's windshield 220. The windshield washer machine 100 is adapted to enable a vehicle operator 200 to thoroughly clean a vehicle's windows such as a windshield 220 though the device 100 could also be used to clean, for example, a vehicle's rear window and lights such as a vehicle's signal lights 240, headlights 260, and the vehicles side-windows 265.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively a perspective and an exploded view of a reciprocating squeegee tool 120 according to the present invention. The reciprocating squeegee tool 120 comprises a handle 270 defining a housing 280 having a first 300 and second 320 opposite ends, and a mechanical reciprocator 340 located in the housing 280. The reciprocating squeegee tool 120 further comprises a hollow elongated shaft 380 having a proximal end 400 and a distal end 420, wherein the proximal end 400 is connected to the second opposite end 320 of the housing 280. A section of the cleaning fluid delivery tube 160 is wrapped around the shaft 380 and terminating in a sprayer member 560.

The reciprocating squeegee tool 120 still further comprises a squeegee head 440 defining a rod connector 460. An elongated rod 480 with opposite ends 500 and 520 is located inside the hollow elongated shaft 380, wherein opposite end 500 is adapted to operably connect to the mechanical reciprocator 340 and the other opposite end 520 is adapted to connect to the rod connector 460 of the squeegee head 440. One end 540 of the cleaning fluid delivery tube 160 terminates in the sprayer member 560. The sprayer member 560 comprises a hollow shaft 565 that accommodates the tube end 540. The tube end 540 may be located inside the shaft 560 or extend therefrom as shown in FIG. 2A. It should be understood that the sprayer member 560 might take any suitable form such as a spray nozzle connected to the tube end 540.

Still referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the mechanical reciprocator 340 comprises an electric motor 345 that is energized by a power supply 660 (see below). The motor 345 may receive power via a re-coiling power line such as a 14-gauge re-coiling power line. However, the mechanical reciprocator 340 may be powered by a compressed air supply.

In normal operation cleaning fluid 600 is directed along the delivery tube 160 to the sprayer member 560 and sprayed on an area 215 of windshield 220 proximate to the squeegee head 440. The spray member 560 may also spray cleaning fluid onto the squeegee head 440.

In more detail, the mechanical reciprocator 340 induces a reciprocating action in the squeegee head 440 such that the squeegee head 440 is repeatedly moved between a first position 442 and a second position 444. The induced movement in the squeegee head 440 combined with the cleaning fluid sprayed from the spray member 560 collectively cleans a vehicle's windshield 220. It should be understood that the reciprocating squeegee tool 120 could be used to clean any vehicle window such as a vehicle's side 265 and rear windows. In addition, the reciprocating squeegee tool 120 can be used to clean other parts of a vehicle such as, but not limited to, side mirrors, lights, body surfaces such as car door surfaces, and wheels.

The reciprocating action provided by the mechanical reciprocator 340 is well understood and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,211 issued Jul. 24, 2001 to R. Granado. U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,211 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The handle 270, which includes the mechanical reciprocator 340, is available from vendors on the World Wide Web such as Makita Industrial Power Tools (e.g., see URL: http://www.toolpeddler.com/4390d.htm).

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the money operated cleaning station 180. The cleaning station 180 comprises housings 183 and 186, and a money-receiving member 188. The housings 183 and 186 can be combined in a single housing; alternatively, the housings 183 and 186, and the money-receiving member 188 can be combined in a single housing.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a cleaning fluid container 580 is located inside housing 183. The container 580 is used to store a body of cleaning fluid 600; the container 580 can be of any suitable volume such as a 55-gallon cleaning fluid drum. A hose 620 carries the cleaning fluid 600 to a pump 640 (see FIG. 4) located in housing 186.

FIG. 4 shows an interior view of the housing 186. A power supply 660 is connected to the pump 640 and the reciprocating squeegee tool 120 via the power supply line 140. The pump 640 pumps cleaning fluid 600 up hose 620 and thence along cleaning the fluid delivery tubing 160 in response to power supplied by the power supply 660 to the pump 640. A timer 680 is connected to the money-receiving member 188 via line 700, and to the power supply 660 via control line 720. The timer 680 is configured to allow the power supply 660 to deliver power to the reciprocating means 340 and the pump 640 for a predetermined time in response to a predetermined amount of money deposited in the money-receiving member 188. The predetermined time can be set to any suitable duration of time. The predetermined time is preferably set to allow sufficient time for an average vehicle operator 200 to clean a vehicle's window such as a windshield 220, but preferably not sufficient time to allow the average vehicle operator to clean an entire vehicle 205 to decrease wear and tear on the reciprocating squeegee tool 120. The predetermined time could be based on the amount of money deposited thereby offering the vehicle operator 200 a range of power-on times to enable the operator 200 to clean the windshield 220 and other parts of the vehicle 205 such as the vehicle's side windows 265.

It should be understood that the power supply 660 might be configured in a multitude of ways without detracting from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the power supply 660 provides an electric current at a voltage suitable to energize the motor 345. The power supply 660 might be configured to output alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The power supply 660 might be adapted to step down a mains input voltage and thereby supply a lower AC voltage to the motor 345. Alternatively, the power supply 660 might be adapted to convert mains AC into low voltage DC and thereby supply a low voltage DC to the motor 345. In another configuration the power supply 660 might only supply power to the motor 345, wherein the pump 640 is configured to accept power directly from the AC mains and further wherein the timer 680 is configured to directly cut or allow power to the pump 640. Thus, the exact arrangement of the power supply 660, timer 680, and the pump 640 may vary considerably without detracting from the spirit of the present invention.

If the output from the power supply is AC it is important that the motor 345 is rated to handle AC. Alternatively, the power supply 660 could output DC in which case it is important that the motor 345 is rated to handle DC. Alternatively, the power supply 660 may take the form of an internal battery inside the handle 270.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a perspective assembled view and a partially broken away side elevation disassembled view of a self-contained embodiment of the reciprocating squeegee tool referred to by the reference No. 710. Squeegee tool 710 includes a handle 770 and housing 780 similar to handle 270 and housing 280 of the embodiment 210 above. A liquid reservoir unit 790, having a reservoir wall 792 and a reservoir pump 800 are attached to handle 780 at its proximal end by reservoir handle attachment 818 conveniently mounted to reservoir wall 792. Pump 800 has a switch 808 for activating pump 800 to pump cleaning fluid from reservoir unit 790 into reservoir delivery tube 812. Liquid reservoir unit 790 has a removable fill and drain cap 810 of conventional structure conveniently located near the upper portion of reservoir wall 792. Clips 824 maintain attachment of reservoir delivery tube 812 along the outer side of housing 780 for connection to housing opposite end 320 (see the description of FIG. 2A, above). The shaft 380 has a proximal end 400 a distal end 420 to which is attached sprayer member 560 having cleaning fluid delivery tube open end 540 fed by cleaning fluid delivery tube 160 are identical to those of the embodiment of FIG. 2A. Also squeegee head 440 having first position 442 and second position 444 (see FIG. 2A) is attached to rod 480 (see FIG. 2B) to rod connector 460 attached to squeegee head 440.

Referring, more particularly, to FIG. 6, handle 770 has an elongated housing 780 into which liquid reservoir unit 790 is removably inserted for use. Liquid reservoir unit 790 has a reservoir wall 792 extending upward from reservoir pump 800 having pump electrical switch 808. A filler hole and cap 810 is conveniently located near the top of reservoir unit 790 for receiving replenishing amounts of liquid. Reservoir delivery tube 812 extends from the output of pump 800 to spray tube connector 822 located on housing opposite end 320. A reservoir handle attachment 818 removably attaches liquid reservoir unit 790 in a convenient manner to the proximal end portion of housing 770. A conventional elongate, rechargeable battery B has electrical connectors or electrodes E+ and E− on opposite sides of the battery B. Battery B is supported by battery support sleeve 854 attached to reservoir handle attachment 818. Battery support sleeve 854 is preferably of thin material conforming substantially to the shape of the battery B and is removably insertable, along with battery B, within battery receiver 840 within handle 770 and generally conforming with handle wall 820. The reservoir pump power line 860 and pump reservoir ground line 861 (located laterally on each side of battery B) attach to electrical connectors or electrodes E+ and E− and provide electrical power to operate pump 800. Lines 860 and 861 are preferably flattened, particularly in the area within the support sleeve 854 to facilitate insertion into the handle 770.

Elongate housing 780 has a handle portion 770 having a wall 820 and a battery receiver 840 for receiving the battery B and support sleeve 854. Upon insertion of liquid reservoir unit 790, and, in particular, battery B, supported by sleeve 854, electrodes E+ and E− engage battery connectors 850 as attached to battery receiving and ground wires 852 and 853, respectively, providing power to electrical drive circuit 844 for operation of the motor for driving the mechanical reciprocator 340 (see above).

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a side elevation view and an exploded side elevation view, respectively, of an extended embodiment of the self-contained reciprocating squeegee tool 710 (see FIG. 5). Liquid reservoir unit 790 is identical to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, above. Housing 780 and handle 770 are also identical to those of FIGS. 5 and 6, above, along with the elongate shaft 380, fluid delivery tube 160, and reciprocal squeegee head 442, the extended version being operable in the non-extended configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6 upon removal of extension housing 910 and extension tube 920 and attachment of tube 812 to tube connector 822. The extension receiver and housing 910, attached extension tube 920, and extension handle insert 1000 make up the extension system.

Extension receiver housing and handle 910 is similarly configured to housing 780 and handle 770 of the unit of FIG. 6 so as to electrically connect with electrodes E+ and E− of the battery B so as to secure and operate the liquid reservoir unit 790 and pump 800. Extension tube 920 encases extension electrical power coil 982 and extension fluid tubing coil 984. A trigger 914 allows power from extension battery connectors 918 and 919 to provide electrical power from electrodes E+ and E− of battery B to extension receiver connector wires 916 and 917, trigger 914, manipulating switch power activator 948. Power switch activator 948 provides electrical power to extension insert connectors 1020 and 1021 which, upon insertion of extension insert 1000 into battery receiver 840 makes electrical connections with battery receiving connectors 850 see FIG. 6) providing electrical power through battery receiving and ground wires 852 and 853 to electrical drive circuit 844 for deriving the reciprocating squeegee tool as previously described above. In this instance, trigger 814 is capable of locking in on position so current flows through the switch when being operated with extension pole controls.

As seen in FIG. 7, reservoir delivery tube 812 is connected to the proximal end of extension fluid tube coil 982 by reservoir delivery tube connector 986. Extension connector tube 990 extends between the distal end of fluid tube coil 982 and housing opposite end 320. Extension connector tube 990 is connected to fluid tube coil 982 by fluid connector 992 and to the spray tube connector 822 by fluid connector 994. Length adjustment nut 926 allows adjustment of the length of extension of extension tube 920 by selectively securing outer extension tube 922 to inner extension tube 924 which slides telescopes therein. The coiled fluid supply tube 982 and the coiled electrical power coil 980 are shown with extension tube 920 at the minimum length in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 8 the outer extension tube 922 is shown broken separated from inner extension tube 924, the length adjustment nut 926 being separated from the inner threaded connector 1040 and the extension fluid tube coil 982 and extension electrical power coil 984 being extended to their maximum length. The length of the extension tube 920 may be adjusted and secured at the desired length by loosening nut 926 relative to threaded connector 1040, sliding inner extension tube 924 to the desired location within outer extension tube 922, and tightening nut 986 over threaded connector 1040. The tightening nut 986 is slightly flared so as progressively tighten threaded connector 1040 against the inner extension tube 924 in a well-known manner.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a diagrammatic representation of the circuitry connecting the battery B to the liquid reservoir pump and the squeegee reciprocating motor. Also shown is a circuit for charging the battery B, the battery being removed to a charger for recharging.

In a further embodiment of the present invention a method is provided to clean a vehicle window, comprising the step of cleaning a vehicle window using a reciprocating means attached to a squeegee head. The reciprocating means is adapted to be driven by an electric current or by pressurized air delivered from a reservoir of compressed air. In this method a cleaning fluid might also be applied to the vehicle window such as the vehicle's windscreen. Alternatively, the cleaning fluid may be applied to the squeegee head or window.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A self-contained reciprocating squeegee tool comprising: a handle having a housing with a first or proximal and second or distal opposite ends; a mechanical reciprocator disposed in said handle; an electric motor for driving said mechanical reciprocator; a hollow elongated shaft having a proximal and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is connected to said second opposite end of said housing; a squeegee head defining a rod connector; an elongated rod with opposite ends located inside said hollow elongated shaft, wherein one opposite end of said rod is operably connected to said mechanical reciprocator and the remaining opposite end of said rod is connected to said rod connector of the squeegee head; a cleaning fluid delivery tube with opposite proximal and distal ends, said distal end connected to a sprayer member; a liquid reservoir unit comprising: a reservoir wall; and an electric pump fluidly connected to said cleaning fluid delivery tube for supplying cleaning fluid from said reservoir unit to said cleaning fluid delivery tube opposite the end connected to said sprayer member; and a battery located within said handle housing having electrical connections with said liquid reservoir pump and said mechanical reciprocator motor for providing power for their respective operation during use of the squeegee tool.
 2. The reciprocating squeegee tool according to claim 1, wherein the delivery tube directs cleaning fluid to the sprayer member for spraying the cleaning fluid on an area of windshield proximate to the squeegee head, and wherein the reciprocator induces a reciprocating action in the squeegee head such that the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between a first position and a second position so that the induced movement in the squeegee head combined with the cleaning fluid spray can be applied to clean a vehicle's windshield.
 3. The reciprocating squeegee tool according to claim 2, wherein said liquid reservoir unit further comprises a reservoir handle attachment mounted on said reservoir wall for connection with said proximal end of said handle.
 4. The reciprocating squeegee tool according to claim 3, wherein said liquid reservoir unit further comprises a battery support sleeve generally conforming to said battery and removably insertable, along with said battery, into said handle housing.
 5. The reciprocating squeegee tool according to claim 4, said electrical connections between said battery and said cleaning liquid pump extending along said battery support sleeve so as to be received within said handle housing.
 6. The reciprocating squeegee tool according to claim 5, further comprising an extension unit removably insertable between said handle housing and said liquid reservoir unit, said extension comprising: a proximal extension receiver housing forming a handle; an extension tube extending forward from said extension housing; a distal extension insert connected to and extending forward from said extension tube; said extension tube containing an extension cleaning fluid tube having a proximal end and a distal end; said extension tube containing an extension electrical power line having a proximal end and a distal end; said cleaning fluid delivery tube being fluidly connectable to the proximal end of said extension cleaning fluid tube; an extension to spray tube connector tube fluidly connected with said cleaning fluid delivery tube; said extension to spray tube being fluidly connectable to said distal end of said extension cleaning fluid tube; and said extension power line being electrically connected with said battery at its proximal end and being electrically connected with said mechanical reciprocator motor; and a trigger switch located on said extension receiver housing handle for selectively opening and closing said electrical connection between said extension power line and said battery for selectively operating said reciprocating squeegee tool; whereby, upon insertion of said extension unit between said liquid reservoir unit and said handle housing, electrical contact is made between said battery and said mechanical reciprocator motor.
 7. The reciprocating squeegee tool of claim 6, said extension tube comprising at least an outer and an inner telescoping tube for selectively extending said extension tube, said extension cleaning fluid tube being in the form of a coil and said extension electrical power line being in the form of a coil, whereby upon extending said extension tube, the said coils extend and separate, and whereby upon retracting said extension tube, said coils retract and gather.
 8. The reciprocating squeegee tool of claim 7, further comprising a length adjustment nut for fixing said inner tube relative to said outer tube for selecting a desired operating length.
 9. The reciprocating squeegee tool of claim 1, said handle having a trigger switch located on said housing handle for selectively opening and closing said electrical connection between said motor of said mechanical reciprocator and said battery for selectively operating said reciprocating squeegee tool.
 10. The reciprocating squeegee tool of claim 1, said sprayer member having a hollow shaft for delivering cleaning fluid proximate said squeegee head.
 11. A method of cleaning a vehicle window, comprising the step of cleaning a vehicle window using a motor-driven mechanical reciprocator attached to and driving a squeegee head.
 12. The method of cleaning a vehicle window according to claim 11, further comprising the step of applying a cleaning fluid to the vehicle window, wherein the vehicle window is a windshield.
 13. The method of cleaning a vehicle window according to claim 11, further comprising the step of spraying a cleaning fluid on to the squeegee head or the vehicle window. 